Alexander Stewart MSP, the Conservative shadow minister for local government, has accused the Scottish Government of bypassing local democracy, highlighting the fact that in the last year the Scottish Government has approved 11 out of 17 wind farms that were originally refused planning permission by local councils. The approvals were made following appeals.
Mr Stewart said, "The minister's answer to my question shows the Scottish Government’s clear contempt for local democracy; two-thirds of wind farm applications rejected by local authorities who clearly know and respect their own rural environments have been overturned by the SNP so far this year."
He added that "The party is clearly demonstrating its obsessiveness with wind energy at the expense of other sources. Communities across Scotland have complained about too many turbines spoiling local scenery."
Scotland is currently driving towards the use of renewable energy and is aiming to generate the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's gross annual energy consumption by 2020. In addition, Scotland wants to provide the equivalent of 11% of its heat demand by 2020 through renewable sources.
In response to the claims, the Scottish Government has insisted that clear planning policies are in place regarding wind farms and that means they will only be developed in appropriate locations.
